The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commenced a comprehensive nationwide training programme for its counsellors to standardise operational procedures and strengthen clinical competencies in line with global best practices in drug demand reduction.
The training began at the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State, and is being coordinated by the agency’s Directorate of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation (DCTR). More than 100 counsellors from NDLEA formations across the country are participating in the first phase of the exercise.
The programme is the first agency-driven capacity-building exercise of its kind for NDLEA counsellors in several years. Participants have described the initiative as a demonstration of the agency’s renewed commitment to the professional development of its counselling workforce.
Speaking at the commencement of the first phase, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), represented by the Director of Counselling, Treatment and Rehabilitation, ACGN Bashir Ibrahim, said the training is critical to revitalising staff morale and equipping counsellors with modern therapeutic tools to address the evolving challenges of substance use disorders.
Marwa said the initiative also reaffirms the rehabilitation pillar of the NDLEA’s mandate and is aimed at ensuring that clients receiving treatment at NDLEA facilities get evidence-based and quality interventions.
He said the key objectives of the training include harmonising counselling practices through uniform protocols across rehabilitation facilities in all state commands, improving clinical proficiency in dealing with emerging psychoactive substances and co-occurring mental health disorders, and aligning the agency’s rehabilitation practices with national and international standards.
Other objectives include strengthening professional ethics, confidentiality and quality assurance, improving data management for evidence-based policymaking, promoting continuous professional development through peer review and clinical supervision, and improving rehabilitation outcomes by reducing inconsistencies in service delivery.
According to Marwa, the programme is part of efforts to build a resilient and well-equipped counselling workforce capable of effectively responding to Nigeria’s growing drug demand reduction needs.
He added that the training is expected to significantly improve the quality of care provided across NDLEA rehabilitation facilities and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s drug treatment and rehabilitation system.
Marwa assured that the agency would continue to invest in the capacity development of its personnel as part of its comprehensive approach to tackling both drug supply and demand in the country.